Plantar Fasciitis - tried everything!

[themidwife]

I've been suffering from Plantar Fasciitis since December & have tried EVERYTHING! Podiatrist appointments, custom built orthotics, strapping, massage, stretching, anti inflammatories, soldiering on!
Any advice gratefully received. Every day is a real drag now & in constant pain
Any advice

I always have very good iron levels - at the end of my 4th pregnancy aged 41 my Hb was 14.5!!! I know I'm not anaemic - I eat tons of dark leafy greens every day!

Have you tried this? compare.ebay.co.uk/like/111079246004?var=lv&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=66&ff19=0
I had terrible plantar fasciitis- saw podiatrists, physios etc.
Someone on here recommended this and within a few weeks of using it 4 times a day it went away.
I wear orthotics but if I don't for a while and it comes back I use this thing for a few weeks and it stops it. I think when I was stretching my calves and feet etc I wasn't going far enough. I only have it at the second setting but it still feels really stretched. If my feet are stiff in the morning I go on this straight away and a 30 sec stretch sorts them out.

Right - the campaign against PF continues - dpi g calf stretches (will def get a stretcher though!) have bio freeze spray, ibuprofen & had the left foot injected yesterday. It really really hurt but hoping it will break the cycle of inflammation & rigidity.

Oh & have bought some Dr Comfort sandals which have a built in orthotic to stop the over pronation when not wearing my trainers & custom orthotics.

Sandals are a real bugger. I wear these www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_60543+105320582_-1
as I can fit my half orthotics in them as they have a heel. Beauteous they aint but they are very comfortable.

I could only wear crocs for months, anything else too painful.

I have had PF for a while, was made worse by wearing fit flops on my hols at easter, dr recomended i wear trainers to work, (im a nurse so on my feet all day) and i must say trainers seem to offer the right support, im waiting to see a podiatrist but in the meantime taking ibruprofen, rolling a cricket ball under my feet, painful but bliss at the same time!! will try the ice bottle....its sure a painful condition, also need to lose weight which im sure will help!

No change yet from the steroid injection but continuing with all the other things!!

Themidwife- not read the whole thread so apologies if this has been discussed already!

Has the "everything" you've tried included a grain elimination diet? This may sound crazy, but google pf and gluten, pf and gluten intolerance, as it is a possible cause.

If you eliminate ALL grains for a month of so, and add them back in one at a time (no more than one kind of grain per week), you would soon notice which kinds (if any) are responsible.

Worth a try maybe?

That's got to be pretty much nonsense. PF is an inflamed tendon. Why would gluten affect just that tendon.PF can be caused by being overweight and going on a gluten diet free district would probably mean you eat less so probably loose weight fherefore taking weight off affected tendon. Any diet would do that not just gluten free fad diets

Bruffin, not nonsense .

Damage from exercise or the wrong shoes etc causes inflammation, inflammation sites attract an immune response, any autoimmune issues you may have (from gluten or anything else) can tend to erupt where there are already problems, or may trigger it in the first place. RA which I have is similarly triggered or worsened by gluten (amongst other factors) in many people typically affects the small bones in my hands and feet, as well as a couple of joints which I injured years ago. As with PF, standing first thing in the morning was agony, as the bones spread out. Hands the same but I don't stand on those!

I had no idea food allergies were at the root of that (I suspected gluten for other health issues, but not that), and was stunned at what a 1 month grain elimination did for me.

No of course it's not at the root of every medical ill, i am not suggesting that, but common enough to be worth trying - elimination diet may identify cause or triggers for many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, cost nothing and may mean no drugs are needed!

Fitflops. Changed my life.

No flat shoes EVER. Heavenly Feet do great dolly shoes with a discreet supportive heel that isn't noticeable. Their other styles are well-built under the heel too. I wear Fitflop Gogh shoes as slippers.

If you run, have your running shoes checked every 6 months or 500 miles, whichever comes first. Get them checked in a PROPER place (not a crappy sports chain).

Follow exercises twice daily forever. Much more if you work on your feet.

I second the fitflops. Amazzzzzing, and supportive for the foot and body as a whole. Life changing.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by overstretching of the plantar ligament and requires rest along with cold compression to get inflammation down and allow blood to flow properly to the ligament bringing oxygen and nutrients to heal the issue. Blood flow stimulators are also fantastic at speeding up this process and healing PF quick, rest is still very important to avoid set backs. I use these products for an ankle I sprained several times years ago and it's nearly completely better now.

Hope this helps,

Kyle

www.kingbrand.com/Plantar_Foot_Treatment.php?REF=52PV107

I found fit flop lace up trainer type shoes were what finally got rid of it for me. Very interesting to see comments above regarding low iron and gluten possibly being connected to this problem. I didn't realise when I had the PF going on, but I do have low iron (low ferritin) and also, I have been another one who has been absolutely amazed at what gets better when you take out grains/gluten from your diet. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself.

Well, I'm not a podiatrist, but I've had foot problems for 20 years... In my experience, plantar fasciitis has a lot to do with footwear, particularly shoes that are slightly too narrow for your feet, or shoes that don't have enough arch support. These two things are linked: if your arch has dropped, your foot will have widened a bit, and shoes that used to fit you fine won't fit well any more.

I have a constant struggle to find shoes I can wear without pain. Merrels, Clarks and Hotter shoes sometimes fit. It is definitely worth getting your feet measured by an old-fashioned shop that will consider width as well as number size. And bear in mind your feet are probably slightly bigger when you stand than when you sit, especially if you have dropped arches or are heavily-built, so you should be measured standing.

Be warned that ignoring foot pain and 'soldiering on' can be a very bad idea: I have been told that the arthritis in my knee was caused by not wearing the arch support I needed. :(